Article dispensing device comprising a pair of tubular members



Dec. 1, 1964 L. PASSAVANTI 3,159,308

ARTICLE DISPENSING navxca COMPRISING A PAIR OF TUBULAR MEMBERS Filed May14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 12

INVENT LAWRENCE P455 NT! A TTORNE K United States Patent 3,159,308ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE CGMPRISING A PAR F TUBULAR MEMBERS LawrencePassavanti, 308 Glen Ave, Palisades Park, NJ. Filed May 14, 1963, Ser.No. 280,210 9 Claims. (til. 221-289) ing individual articles from acolumn of articles within the device, as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved aiticledispensing device which is of simple con struction and is made of aminimum number of parts, thereby materially reducing cost ofmanufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a dispensing deviceof the character described, novel means for supporting a column ofarticles while the bottommost article of the column is being dispensed;such supporting means being of a character which leaves the device in aslim compact form.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a compact devicefor dispensing articles and adapted to handle articles of slightlyvarying sizes; the dispensing mechanism being of reduced bulk, therebyenlarging the article carrying capacity of the device.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved articledispenser wherein the stack of articles to be dispensed are held in theactuating portion of the device thereby eliminating the need for holdersor separate cartridges.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of thecharacter described, a combination article holding member and actuatingmember; such combination member when emptied being replaceable by asimilar combination member.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an articledispensing device embodying the invention, and showing the elementsthereof in a non-dispensing relation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1, showingthe elements thereof in a dispensing relation;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view showing the lower dispensingend of the device;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1, andshowing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIIG. 5, showing the elementsthereof in dispensing relation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of an element ofthe device;

FIG. 8 is a partial rear elevational view of the lower portion of thedevice, with parts broken away and showing another form of an elementthereof;

FIG. 9 is a partial, side elevational view in section showing thesupporting element indicated in FIG. 8, in operative position;

FIG. 10 is a partial vertical sectional view of a device embodying theinvention and showing an alternative form thereof;

FIG. 11 is a partial vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. 10,showing the elements thereof in dispen ing relation; and

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1212 of FIG.10.

The device of the instant invention comprises essentially a pair ofcoaxial, telescoped tubular members wherein the inner member carries astack of pills, candies or other articles to be dispensed and may bereciprocated within the outer member between normal, nondispensingposition and its dispensing position. The tubular members are formedwith dispensing openings which register when the inner member isdepressed relative to the outer member, to allow the lowermost articleof the stack to pass outwardly through the registered dispensingopenings, by gravity.

The device further includes an elongated element whose upper endprovides means for supporting the stack of articles while the lowermostarticle is being dispensed; such supporting means becoming automaticallyoperative only when the inner member is depressed to its dispensingposition.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 10 designates a device embodying theinvention for dispensing various articles including pills, candies orthe like. As shown, the articles to be dispensed are indicated in stackform and are typical medicinal pills or tablets such as aspirin, orsacharin tablets.

Device 10 comprises a pair of coaxially and reciprocably related tubularmembers 11, 12 which are shown in cylindrical form. The outer member 11is closed at its lower end by a plug 13 and is open at its upper end 14to receive the inner member 12. The wall 15 of the outer member 11 isformed with a dispensing opening 16, FIGS. 1, 3 with a configuration anddimensions to readily pass the lowermost tablet T of the stack oftablets S carried in the inner member 12; such dispensing opening beinglocated adjacent the closed end of member 11.

The inner member 12 is also formed with a dispensing opening 17, similarin size and configuration to opening 16, and being located adjacent thelower end 18 of said member 12. The inner member 12 is slidably relatedto the outer member 11 and is urged outwardly thereof to a normal, restposition, as indicated in FIG. 1, by a vertically positioned spring 19received at its lower end in a central recess 20 formed in plug 13 andat its upper end in a central recess 21 formed in an abutment member 22fixed in the lower portion of inner member 12.

The movement of the inner member 12 relative to the outer member 11outwardly thereof is limited by a stop 23 projecting radially from theouter surface of the wall of inner member 12 and moving in a verticalslot 24 of limited extent formed in wall 15 of the outer member 11. Y

The abutment member 22 has an inclined, flat upper surface 25, the loweredge 26 thereof coinciding with the lower edge 27 of the dispensingopening 17 of the inner member 12. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, the tabletsof stack S tend to arrange themselves in positions inclined to the axisof the members 11, 12; the lowermost tablet T resting on surface 25 inthe elevated, rest position of member 12.

The inner member 12 is filled with the tablets forming stack S from itsupper end 28, the member 12 then being closed by a plug 29. Plug 29 maybe permanently secured in place or may be removable to allow forrefilling the member 12.

It will be apparent that upon depressing the inner member 12 withrespect to outer member 11, the lowermost tablet T which has beenresting on the inclined abutment surface 25 with its forward edgeprojected through ber 31 is mounted in an upright position along theinner surface of the, inner member 12., the lower end thereof beinganchored in a recess 32 formed in plug 13, as by a screw 33. a

The abutment member 22 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 34to freely pass the intermediate and upper portions of resilient member31. Resilient member 31 tends to roll into a helix by reason of itsspringiness in a manner similar to that of a watch spring. However, thelength of member 31 is such that with the inner member 12 in its normal,raised position, the upper free end 35 of member 31 is substantiallycoextensive with the upper edge 36 of the abutment member 22,thusrestraining the upper free end portion of member 31 from itstendency to curl and thereby extend radially toward the axis of members11, 12. I

Thus, as member 12 is depressed toward its dispensing position, theupper free end portion 37 of spring member 31 is exposed and resilientlydeflects in a radial direction to bring the free end 35 thereof into aposition to abut the under surface of tablet T of stack S, as shown inFIG. 2,. thus'supporting stack S while tablet T is being dispensed; Thenormal displaced relationship of tablets T and T allows the spring end35 to locate itself progressively in a position to engage theundersurface of tablet vT at a mid portion thereof to provide supportfor stack S.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown stopped by the wallportion I when inner member 12 or section 12B is depressed,

engage shoulder 44 at the upper end of slot 34 in abutment member 22when the inner member 12 is in its raised non-dispensing position. Itwill be apparent that in addition to its supporting function, member 31Bprovides stop means for limiting the upward movement of the inner member12.

p The combination support and stop member 31B may be used withsectionalized inner member 12, in which case, the lower section 12B islimited in its upward movement by the stop action of member 3113. Ineither case,

member 3113 will have its upper portion deflect radially inward to bringportion B into engaging relation with tablet T, as shown in FIG. 9,supporting the stack of tablets while tablet T is dispensed.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1042, whereinthe tubular coaxial members 50, 51 are of rectangular cross-section toaccommodate in the inner member 51 a stack of tablets disposed invertical edge to edge relation. With member 51 in its raised, restposition, the lowermost tablet A is resting on abutment 22 andprojecting through dispensing opening 17A and abutting the wall portionof the outer member 59.

The springy support member 31C is somewhat longer then members 31, 3113,to allow for the somewhat greater ravel of the inner member 51 relativeto member 58 between non-dispensing and dispensing positions. How'-ever, with the tablets in edge to edge relation and closely confined bythe opposed walls of member the terminal in FIGS. 5, 6; the innertubular member 12 is split transversely into an upper section 12A and alower section 12B with thelower edge 46E of upper section 12A abuttingthe upper edge 41 of lower section 123. Thus, the upper section 12A mayconstitute a replaceable cartridge or magazine to be prepackaged withselected tablets, candies 1 or the like, with a temporary closure ofcellophane or the the same as in the case of device 10 previouslydescribed; 7

the section's 12A, 12B moving as a unit when depressed and elevated byspring 19. However, a stop 42 projects radially inward from the innersurface of wall 15 of the outer member 11 to limit the outward movementof the lower section 12B. Section 12A is formed with a vertical slotv 43opening at its lower end on bottom edge 40 of said section 12A, to clearthe stop 42 when the sections 12A, 12B are depressed to their dispensingposition, FIG.

6. The support member 31 operates automatically to bring end 35 thereofinto support positionrelative to 7 tablet T in the manner previouslydescribed,

In FIG. '7 is shown an alternative form of the springy support member31A, which terminates at its upper end in a rolled portion 35A whichpresents a curved contact surface in respect to the tablet, etc. to besupported when end portion 37A is biased radially inward as previouslydescribed, thus avoiding chipping or scratching the engaged undersurfaceof the tablet or otherarticle being dispensed. V 3 7 Another form of thespringy support element is shown in FIGS. 8, 9, wherein the elongatedflat springmember 31B terminates at its upper end in a semicircularportion 3513, thus providing'laterally disposed edges which upper end ofsupport member 31C need deflect inwardly ashort distance to a pointshort of the axis of the member 51, as. shown in FIG. 11, to provideadequate support of the stack of tablets; In this case, dispensingopening 17A is in registry with dispensing opening 16A to allow tablet Ato move out by gravity relative to the inclined supporting surface ofabutment member 22.

It will be apparent, that with tablet A closely confined in inner member51, the supportingfmeans may have little or no radial deflection andstill be in a position to engage a circumferentialedge portion of tabletA so as to support the stack within member 51, while leaving thebottommost tablet A sufiicient clearance relative to the supportingmember, as indicated in FIG. 10, to allow said lowermost tablet A to bedispensed in a convenient manner. The spring 19A provides the means forreciprocating inner member 51 relative to outer member 50, in the mannerpreviously described.

The coaxially related tubular members may be formed 7 of thin metaltubing, molded plastic or the like. The plugs 13 and 19 may also beformed of plastic or other suitable material.

As various changesmight be made i'n the embodiments of the inventionherein disclosed without departing from said closure means and the endor" the inner member adjacent said one end of the outer'member forrestoring the inner member to a normal rest position after said innermember has been depressed within said outer member, said inner and outermembers having dispensing openings in wall portions thereof, saidopenings being in offset relation when said inner member is at its restposition and in registering relation when said inner member is I in adepressed position, said inner member being adapted to carry a stack ofarticles to be dispensed, abutment means at the lower endof thedispensing opening of the said outer tubular member, and means on saidabutment member and said inner tubular member for confining saidcoilable strip spring means in an uncoiled, flat condition and varyingthe extent of the radial deflection of the free end thereof inaccordance with the position of said inner member relative to said outermember, whereby in the depressed position of said inner member, the freeend of said coilable spring means is positioned to engage the next mostlowermost article in said stack of articles to support said stack ofarticles while the lowermost article is being dispensed through theregistering dispensing openings of said tubular members.

2. An article dispensing device as in claim 1 wherein said tubularmembers are of rectangular cross section, said articles being ofcircular shape and disposed in edge to edge relation, and the free endof said second mentioned spring means being located in offset relationto the axis of said tubular members for eccentric engagement with theedge of the next most lowermost article of said stack of articles tosupport the same while the lowermost article is being dispensed.

3. An article dispensing device as in claim 1 wherein said inner tubularmember comprises longitudinally related sections having abutting edgeportions, the abutment means being disposed in the lower section of saidtubular member, stop means for limiting the travel of the inner tubularmember upon depressed movement thereof, and stop means for limiting thetravel of the lower section of said inner tubular member.

4. An article dispensing device as in claim 3 wherein the upper sectionof said inner tubular member provides means for carrying the stack ofarticles and said upper section is adapted to be removed from the outertubular member when the articles carried therein are exhausted, to allowreplacement with a similar upper tubular section filled with a stack ofarticles.

5. An article dispensing device comprising a pair of telescopicallyrelated tubular members, closure means for the oppositely disposed outeropen ends of said tubular members, closure means for the inner end ofthe inner tubular member, said tubular members being formed withdispensing openings in wall portions thereof, spring means for urgingthe inner tubular member to a raised rest position relative to the outertubular member wherein the dispensing openings of said tubular membersare in displaced relation to each other, the closure means for the innerend of the inner tubular member including abutment means for supportinga stack of articles within said inner tubular member, said inner tubularmember being depressible from said rest position to a dispensingposition wherein the dispensing openings of said tubular members are inregistry to allow the bottommost article of said stack of articles topass outwardly through said registering dispensing openings, and meansfor supporting the stack of articles immediately above said bottommostarticle while the bottommost article is being dispensed, said supportingmeans comprising a resilient coilable strip which tends to coil whensaid strip is in an unrestrained condition, said strip being arranged tobe restrained and disposed in a flat inoperative condition when saidinner tubular member is in its normal rest position,

.3 said strip being progressively unrestrained from one end thereoftoward the other end thereof as said inner tubular member moves from itsrest to its dispensing position,

' said unrestrained portions of said strip tending to coil and to bringthe outer end thereof toward the axis of said inner tubular member andin supporting engagement with the stack of articles immediately abovesaid bottommost article, said coiled end portion of the strip beingrestored to its uncoiled, inoperative condition in response to movementof said inner tubular member from its dispensing position to its restposition.

6. An article dispensing device as in claim 5 wherein the free end ofthe coilable strip includes stop means engageable with a shoulderedportion of said abutment means to limit the movement of the innertubular member outwardly of the outer tubular member.

7. An article dispensing device as in claim 5, wherein said coilablestrip is anchored at one end to said outer tubular member and extendslongitudinally along the inner surface of said inner tubular member, theclosure means for the inner end of the inner tubular member includingportions thereof for confining the free end portions of said anchoredcoilable strip in a flat condition against the inner surface of saidinner tubular member, the free end of said coilable strip automaticallyextending radially inwardly toward the axis of the inner tubular memberas the inner tubular member is depressed toward -its dispensing positionto thereby bring the free end of said coilable strip between thelowermost article and the article immediately above the lowermostarticle in said stack of articles.

8. An article dispensing device as in claim 7 wherein said abutmentmeans includes an inclined surface on the inner end of the closure meansfor the inner end of the inner tubular member, said inclined surfaceextending at its lower end to the dispensing opening in the innertubular member, the free end of the coilable strip in its totallyrestrained condition being immediately below the upper end of theinclined abutment surface when said inner tubular member is in its restposition, said free end of the coilable strip coiling about the upperend of the inclined abutment surface as said inner tubular member isdepressed toward the dispensing position thereof.

9. An article dispensing device as in claim 8 wherein said closure meansfor the inner end of the inner tubular member is formed with a shallow,longitudinal slot extending from the outer end thereof to the upper endof the inclined abutment surface for receiving the coilable striptherein, said strip and the slotted closure member being furtheroperative to prevent relative rotation of said inner and outer tubularmembers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ItalyFeb. 18, 1936

1. AN ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF COAXIAL, SLIDABLYRELATED TUBULAR MEMBERS, CLOSURE MEANS FOR ONE END OF THE OUTER MEMBER,SPRING MEANS BETWEEN SAID CLOSURE MEANS AND THE END OF THE INNER MEMBERADJACENT SAID ONE END OF THE OUTER MEMBER FOR RESTORING THE INNER MEMBERTO A NORMAL REST POSITION AFTER SAID INNER MEMBER HAS BEEN DEPRESSEDWITHIN SAID OUTER MEMBER, SAID INNER AND OUTER MEMBERS HAVING DISPENSINGOPENINGS IN WALL PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID OPENINGS BEING IN OFFSETRELATION WHEN SAID INNER MEMBER IS AT ITS REST POSITION AND INREGISTERING RELATION WHEN SAID INNER MEMBER IS IN A DEPRESSED POSITION,SAID INNER MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO CARRY A STACK OF ARTICLES TO BEDISPENSED, ABUTMENT MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF THE DISPENSING OPENING OFTHE INNER MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING SAID STACK OF ARTICLES, AND COILABLESTRIP SPRING MEANS HAVING ONE END ANCHORED TO SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER,AND MEANS ON SAID ABUTMENT MEMBER AND SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FORCONFINING SAID COILABLE STRIP SPRING MEANS IN AN UNCOILED, FLATCONDITION AND VARYING THE EXTENT OF THE RADIAL DEFLECTION OF THE FREEEND THEREOF IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POSITION OF SAID INNER MEMBERRELATIVE TO SAID OUTER MEMBER, WHEREBY IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION OF SAIDINNER MEMBER, THE FREE END OF SAID COILABLE SPRING MEANS IS POSITIONEDTO ENGAGE THE NEXT MOST LOWERMOST ARTICLE IN SAID STACK OF ARTICLES TOSUPPORT SAID STACK OF ARTICLES WHILE THE LOWERMOST ARTICLE IS BEINGDISPENSED THROUGH THE REGISTERING DISPENSING OPENINGS OF SAID TUBULARMEMBERS.